Fly swatter



Jan. 4, 1938. c;-| BELL 2,104,149

FLY SWATTER Filed Feb. l2, 1936 Patented Jan. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLY SWATTER Application February 12, 1936, Serial No. 63,524

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in fly swatters, and moreparticularly to the open-mesh fabric adapted for use in the blade or striking body of fly swatters.

The principal object of the invention is to provide as an improved article of manufacture, a novel form of Woven strand material affording the most efficacious compromise between stiffness and flexibility, that is light in Weight, non-scratching or marring to finished surfaces, impervious to moisture and humidity, unaffected by ordinary changes in temperature, capable of highly decorative and pleasing color effects, and that can be economically manufactured so as to be available at a relatively low price.

For many years, a material has been sought combining all of the desirable qualities above enumerated.

Among the principal commercial developments along this line have been the twisted paper strand fabric of the Harley Patent No. 1,727,768 and the twisted regenerated cellulose strand fabric of the Bennett Patent No. 1,913,228. Even though they generally are sold at a slightly higher cost than Wire screen swatters, swatters of the paper and regenerated cellulose type have enjoyed considerable popularity, due largely, perhaps, to the more pleasing decorative color effects produced, and less liability to scratch or mar polished surfaces. Still another form of commercial swatter is the moulded rubber blade type. This type of swatter has demonstrated superior qualities in practically all requirements excepting those of lightness and economy,` but the high cost of the relatively heavy rubber blade has made it necessary to sell such swatters at considerably higher prices than woven fabric or mesh swatters,-al most prohibitive prices for such devices.

The invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fly swatter, the blade or striking body of which is constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the fabric used in the blade or striking body shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a modified form of fabric.'

In the drawing, the fly swatter shown in Fig. 1 comprises a blade or swatter body I and a wire stem or support I I having a handle I2, all of any suitable form. The blade is made of an open mesh fabric consisting of a plurality of strands I3 Woven in the usual manner, having its lower corners folded at I4 over the wire stem and suitably secured thereon as bystaples I 5. The edges of the fabric are preferably secured by a suitable binding I6, sewn or otherwise secured over the ends of the strands so as to keep them from untwisting. 5

In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, said fabric is Woven wholly from strands, each of which consists of a thin strip of sheet Pliolm twisted or rolled upon itself. This sheet Pliolm material is a transparent colored or uncolored slightl0 ly extensible film, sheet or strip composed entirely or largely of rubber derivative,and is commercially available in thin transparent sheets varying approximately from .0010 to .0015 inch in thickness, at price ranges substantially less than for l5 regenerated cellulose of equal thicknesses. It is wholly moistureproof so that its resistance to moisture is not decreased by wrinkling or twisting, as is the case with regenerated cellulose which is usually given special surface treatment in sheet form to improve its moistureproof qualities. Therefore, a mesh fabric made of Pliofilm retains uniform flexibility and rigidity within ordinary temperature and humidity ranges.

Due to its rubber composition, Pliofllm is slightly eXtensible and considerably more pliable than paper or regenerated cellulose,so that the improved fabric of my invention provides a more elastic or resilient striking surface, less liable t0 mar or scratch polished furniture or the like. This greater pliability also renders the fabric easier to handle in folding over and securing the fabric to the fly swatter stem or support during the manufacturing processes, particularly as compared with the more brittle regenerated cellulose fabric which is dilicult to crease or fold without breaking the more brittle strands. My improved material also has substantially greater tear resistance, and this, coupled with its pliability and extensibility, makes it possible for the fabric to stand more abuse than the paper or regenerated cellulose strand fabrics heretofore employed in ily swatters. The improved fabric may be woven in a wide variety of colors, all having a brilliant transparent or semi-transparent appearance especially attractive to the eye. In short, the new form of material combines the ideal qualities of the high-cost moulded rubber blade with the best qualities of the lighter regenerated cellulose Woven fabric blade, but at a cost less than either.

In the form of fabric illustrated in Fig. 3, certain strands I1 are shown as made of Pliolm, while other strands I8 are made ofy twisted paper or similar material. This or similar combinations of material may be used Where the greater du- 55 which are formed of a rolled and twisted stripY of thin, slightly extensible material composed entirely or largely of rubber derivative, said strands Y being woven together, and producing a light, pliable, resilient, scratch-proof striking body, the relative rigidity and flexibility of which is substantially unaffected by moisture.

2. In a fly swatter, a blade consisting of a fabric including a plurality of strands, some of which areV formed of a thin sheet of Pliolm composed entirely or largely of rubber derivative rolled and twisted upon itself, and producing a light, pliable, resilient, scratch-proof striking body, the relative rigidity and iiexibility of which is substantially unaffected by moisture.

3.111 aily svvatter,Y ablade consisting of a. fabric Woven with strands, each formed of a thin sheet of transparent semi-extensible material composed entirely or largely of rubber derivative rolled and twisted upon itself, and producing a lightVpliable, resilient, thoroughly scratch-proof and moisture-proof striking body.

` 4, VInlv a' fly swatter, a blade consisting of a fabricwoven with strands, each Yformed of a rolled and twisted thin sheet of Pliolm, composed entirely or largely of rubber derivative and producing a light, pliable, resilient, thoroughly scratchproof and moisture-proof striking body.

CHARLES L. BELL. 

